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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
## MINUTES
The minutes of meeting held on 14 April 1992 were confirmed.
## PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of April 1992.
## QUESTIONS
1. MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese): As there are kiosks in most of the Urban Council playgrounds, pitches/courts, bathing beaches and swimming pools, does the Urban Services Department exercise any control on the prices of goods sold at such kiosks?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asks whether the Department exercises any control over the price of goods sold at kiosks located at playgrounds, pitches/courts, bathing beaches and swimming pools of the Urban Council.
The Council controls the price of goods sold at most of its refreshment outlets in leisure venues. Of the existing 72 venues, price controls on 24 have been lifted. This follows the Council's decision, in September 1989, to relax price controls at outlets where alternative retail outlets such as fast food shops or supermarkets are available in the immediate vicinity. The intention was to make the operators' business more viable whilst the Council on its part, benefits by receiving a higher monthly return.
For those outlets where prices are controlled, the Council sets the prices on soft drinks, beverages and frozen confections and revises them quarterly in consultation with the Consumer Council. The operators can only revise the prices on other items after obtaining the written approval of the Department. For those outlets where price controls have been lifted, the operators may set the prices on all items in accord with market conditions. However, the Council still controls the range of commodities sold and the operators are required to prominently display the prices charged.
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The prices displayed and the range of goods sold at these refreshment outlets are checked by departmental staff at fortnightly intervals. Should overcharging be reported and substantiated, a warning letter will be sent to the operator. In the event of the offence being repeated, the Department may make a recommendation to Delegated Members of the Council seeking approval to the closure of the outlet for a specified period-usually two days. Ultimately the Council may terminate the agreement if these breaches persist.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. WONG on paragraph 4 of the reply. He says that in the event of over-charging being repeated, these operators would be punished. I would like to ask whether this had happened in the past? This is my first question. The second one is about the kiosk in Victoria Park. Is it within the list of outlets where the prices of goods are controlled? If it is, I would like to ask during the last Lunar New Year Fair, found that the soft drink sold there was HK$10.00 per can. Is this over-charging and did the Department take any action?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to reply Mr. CHAN's questions. In the past, we did send out warning letters and prosecute some operators. As for the second question, every year, in the Lunar New Year Fair, the stalls are let by tender. I will have to look into the content of the contract, before I can give an answer to Mr. CHAN.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a follow-up question. First of all, I would like to ask Mr. WONG whether the kiosk in Victoria Park is within the list of control? Secondly, for the kiosk which I have patronized, it was the Council's kiosk in Victoria Park. It was not one of the stalls let during the Lunar New Year Fair. I hope that I would be able to get a concrete reply to both of my questions.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese);—Mr. Chairman, I am afraid I do not have the information off hand. I will give a written answer to Mr. CHAN later.
2.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):-Owing to a lot of illegal hawkers in Kam Wah Street, Shau Ki Wan, the general sanitation is very bad. Can anything be done in this matter?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Kam Wah Street is certainly one of the busiest hawker areas in Eastern District. There are 168 licensed fixed pitch hawkers on both sides of the street selling a variety of commodities such as fruit, vegetables and various dry goods. In two nearby streets, namely Mong Lung Street and Tai Tak Street, there are also 80 licensed fixed pitch hawkers selling various items. Since this is a very viable hawking area, it inevitably acts as a magnet for unlicensed hawkers who attempt to trade illegally in the vicinity on a daily basis.
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